Texas Instruments unveils MCU the size of a black pepper flake, ideal for next-gen wearables

What just happened? Texas Instruments has made a significant leap in the field of microelectronics with the unveiling of the world's smallest microcontroller unit (MCU), the MSPM0C1104. This diminutive device measures a mere 1.38 mm² – about the size of a black pepper flake. As consumers increasingly demand more features in smaller devices, the need for compact components like this MCU has become paramount. This trend is particularly pronounced in the medical and consumer electronics fields, where wearables and smart home devices are gaining popularity. The MSPM0C1104 MCU is part of Texas Instruments' Arm Cortex-M0+ MSPM0 MCU portfolio and leverages the advantages of wafer-level chip-scale package (WLCSP) technology, making it 38 percent smaller than competing devices. This technological advancement allows engineers to maintain high computing performance without increasing board size, which is crucial for devices such as earbuds and medical probes. The MCU features a 12-bit analog-to ... Read full article.